Target details

Target details

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Alternative Name

ZIP4

Background

ZIP4 (Zinc transporter ZIP4) plays an important role in cellular zinc homeostasis as a zinc transporter. ZIP4 is regulated in response to zinc availability. ZIP4 is a multi-pass membrane protein and is colocalized with TFRC in the recycling endosomes. ZIP4 cycles between endosomal compartments and the plasma membrane in response to zinc availability. ZIP4 is highly expressed in kidney, small intestine, stomach, colon, jejunum and duodenum. Defects in SLC39A4 are the cause of acrodermatitis enteropathica zinc-deficiency type (AEZ). AEZ is a rare autosomal recessive disease caused by the inability to absorb sufficient zinc. The clinicals features are growth retardation, immune system dysfunction, alopecia, severe dermatitis, diarrhea and occasionally mental disorders. All these manifestations are reversible with zinc supplementation. Without zinc therapy this disease is fatal. ZIP4 belongs to the ZIP transporter (TC 2.A.5) family.Synonyms: SLC39A4 (Solute carrier family 39 member 4), ZIP-4 (Zrt- and Irt-like protein 4)